"There is no movement from the shore," said the Prince presently, lowering his glasses. Then he passed into the conning-tower to confer with his chief officer. In a few moments he returned. "He thinks it is the narrows where we shall be held up. He says the Captain-General would not believe a Pole would face that mine-field. Perhaps it is that he is right--Ludovic, I mean. We will wait." Then he rubbed his hands with absurd glee. "It is interesting." Ruxton was forced to smile. A delightful sensation of excitement was growing within him again. He had told himself that it was life or death, but the full significance of his assurance had been powerless to possess him. He had often dreamed of Death. He had imagined it in almost every form. Nor, in his dreams, had it ever succeeded in terrifying him any more than the thought of it did now. No, the whole situation had contrived an impersonal atmosphere for himself. He was looking on, watching a great contest between the brain of this man, his courage and soul, against the military rule and power of the Captain-General Von Salzinger. A low chuckling laugh broke upon his reflections. "It is an illustration," said the Prince, his eyes now steadily fixed upon the jaws of the narrows ahead. "The test is even greater than I could have hoped. We are an unarmed submersible merchantman. Such as we have talked of. Here we are, under the enemy's batteries--at war. We are carrying butter, hey? Butter to your shores, in war time, in face of a blockade. Your countrymen are starving for--butter. We must reach them, and so save your country from destruction--with butter." "Make it copper, Prince," smiled Ruxton. "Ha! Yes, copper. It is very necessary in war time." The Prince smiled in appreciation. Then he pointed ahead. "But see, Ludovic is right." He was indicating a dark object moving towards them on the water out of the gloomy shadows of the rocky sentries of the narrows. "It is a patrol. Under normal conditions it would gladly pilot us through the mine-field. Now it has no such friendly desire." His regard became less smiling, and he relapsed into silence. The dead flat water was thrown up into two great wings as the patrol boat pressed on towards them. The excitement was more and more taking possession of the Englishman. His faith in the Polish prince was invincible. "Shall you hear what he has to say?" he enquired presently, his breathing quickened in spite of an outward calm. The Prince did not turn to answer, but his slight laugh was full of quiet confidence. "Why waste time--valuable time?" he retorted whimsically. "We are in a hurry to reach the open sea. No, I do not listen to the Captain-General's commands to me. He is my subordinate." Then he added with the ingenuous subtlety of a schoolboy, "If I listened to the order to stop, and refused to obey, I should commit myself in the eyes of Berlin. No. Come below. It is time."